OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada—A FIFA spokesperson has confirmed in an email that Sikh turbans & patkas can be permitted under Law 4 of the laws of the game. The FIFA spokesperson also acknowledged that the Quebec Soccer Federation is subject to the jurisdiction of the Canadian Soccer Association.
The email was obtained by Toronto resident Raghav Sandhu. He received it as a reply to a message he sent to FIFA, asking for help in overturning the Quebec Soccer Turban ban. Mr.Sandhu has set up Facebook and Twitter accounts in support of overturning the QSF ban. These can be found at http://www.facebook.com/quebecturbanban and @QuebecTurbanBan.
According to the FIFA Spokesperson:
“Under law 4 of the laws of the game it is stated that any equipment apart
from the basic equipment shall be examined by the referee and be considered
as not dangerous to be allowed on the field.
http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/officialdocuments/doclists/laws.html”
“FIFA lifted the ban of wearing hijabs or turbans, as well as the Canadian
Soccer association did. Therefore, as the Quebec Football Federation lies
under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Soccer Association, please contact
them directly in this regard:
http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=can/index.html”
The entire copy can be seen below (We have deleted names and personal email addresses.) We believe this e-mail to be authentic.
The QSF’s main justification for the Turban ban was that it wasn’t clearly covered by FIFA’s Laws. They also maintained their ruling took precedence over specific directives from the Canadian Soccer Association allowing headscarfs and Sikh headgear. The Canadian Soccer Association is FIFA’s representative in Canada.
Friends of Soccer is a grassroots soccer movement based in Vancouver, Canada. Find out more at www.friendsofsoccer.org .
Bill Currie
Friends of Soccer
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Contact (FIFA) <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, Jun 6, 2013 at 5:54 AM
Subject: RE: Banning of Religious Headgear in Quebec, Canada
To: Raghav Sandhu <***********@********.*****>Dear Sir or Madam,
Under law 4 of the laws of the game it is stated that any equipment apart
from the basic equipment shall be examined by the referee and be considered
as not dangerous to be allowed on the field.
http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/officialdocuments/doclists/laws.htmlFIFA lifted the ban of wearing hijabs or turbans, as well as the Canadian
Soccer association did. Therefore, as the Quebec Football Federation lies
under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Soccer Association, please contact
them directly in this regard:
http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=can/index.htmlThank you for your understanding and interest.
Kind regards,
*****
Communications & Public Affairs Division
FIFA – Fédération Internationale de Football Association
www.FIFA.com—–Original Message—–
From: [email protected]; on behalf of *********@******.***; [mailto:
[email protected]]
Sent: Mittwoch, 5. Juni 2013 01:28
To: Contact (FIFA)
Subject: Banning of Religious Headgear in Quebec, CanadaName: Raghav Sandhu
Email: *************@********.***Dear FIFA,
My name is Raghav and I am a Canadian who has come to hear of the recent
ruling of the Quebec Soccer Federation to not allow Turbans to be worn
during kids’ soccer games in the region. I am very appalled with this
ruling as soccer or football is a sport that promotes diversity and
tolerance. Banning religious headgear such as the turban go to show that
not everyone is welcome when it comes to being part of the Global Football
Family. A spokesperson from the Quebec Soccer Federation has stated that
“they can play in their backyards” in regards to wearing Turbans. The
federation has also asked individuals to take the problem to FIFA. Please
direct me to someone I can talk to about this issue.Yours Truly,
Raghav Sandhu
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@ Sav, how many FIFA soccer players wear glasses during a match? They DONT. Plain and simple and yes a sweatband is officially part of the equipment allowed. Try looking up soccer rules before commenting and attacking me. This has nothing to do with racism, but keeping sports a secular environment for all to enjoy.
Fifa Ruling: “Players must not reveal undershirts which contain slogans or advertising,. The basic compulsory equipment must not contain any political, relious or personal statements.”
“A player may wear other basic equipment providing its sole purpose is to protect him physically” (Meaning does not conflict with the above ruling).
And just so we are clear, all of those items mentioned are forbidden equipment, save “protective eyewear and sweatbands”
I just read a fairly interesting blog post on this subject at RedCardTheRef. I completely agree with this post and back the Sikh community on this one. Whether or not the ban is right or wrong – the QSF handling of this situation is shameful.